DEIB Strategies

In an effort to ensure all members of the KU Community feel comfortable in our programs, facilitates and services, this committee will provide a critical lens to those programs and services. The DEIB committee will provide resources and engagement opportunities to full-time and part-time student staff on relevant topics, while providing guidance and feedback on all departmental strategies and efforts to be an inclusive department. This committee will also engage, collaborate with and promote campus partners in their DEIB efforts, as well.

Committee members include:

• Vanessa Boese – Student
• Nadia Jackson – Student
• Sadie Osborn – Student
• Jason Krone – Director
• Jill Urkoski – Associate Director of Programs

Every person has experiences, perspectives, and unique identities that help strengthen and shape our community. It’s what makes us Jayhawks. Through the drafting of an Anti-Racism statement, Recreation Services demonstrates a commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who use our services.

Time for change. Time for action. Today – and every day – Recreation Services stands against racism and inequity.

Sub-committee members include:

• Jon Randle, Assistant Director of Intramural Sports, Chair of sub-committee
• Mike Dickey, Assistant Director of Facility Management/Outdoor Pursuits

Recreation Services is devoted to building a sustaining and inclusive working environment. Our department believes every member on our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of experiences which can help engage our community in identifying challenges and working toward a solution.

Sub-committee members include:

• Mike Dickey, Assistant Director of Facility Management/Outdoor Pursuits, Chair of sub-committee
• Blair Schuyler, Associate Director of Facility Management
• Jon Randle, Assistant Director of Intramural Sports
• Kendra Ikenberry, Coordinator, Fitness and Wellness

Recreation Services is committed to recruiting beyond KU and has been compiling a list, not yet completed, of professional associations (i.e., the National Forum for Black Public Administrators), affinity groups within professional associations (i.e., Latinos and Planning Division, American Planning Association), networks of professionals of color to enhance our hiring practices.

Sub-committee members include:

• Mike Dickey, Assistant Director of Facility Management/Outdoor Pursuits, Chair of sub-committee
• Chad Bruner, Assistant Director of Sport Clubs
• Blair Schuyler, Associate Director of Facility Management

This sub-committee created a series of interview questions for both student positions and professional staff positions focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. It is important we as a department share our commitment towards racial equity when hiring new members to join our team. An example of an interview question is, “What is your approach to understanding the perspectives of colleagues from different backgrounds?” We are encouraged by our progress and look forward to continuing our commitment each year.

Sub-committee members include:

• Blair Schuyler, Associate Director of Facility Management, Chair of sub-committee
• Emily Weeks, Senior Coordinator, Operations
• Jon Randle, Assistant Director of Intramural Sports

This sub-committee is creating an Inclusive Language Guide to reference when all images, videos, and text (e.g., training materials, mass emails to members, social media, etc.) created by Recreation Services are assessed for bias. If a questionable word, sentence, image, etc. is identified, the Inclusive Language Guide will be referenced.  Starting November 2021, professional staff will use the Inclusive Writing Guide to assess their own material.

Sub-committee members include:

• Miranda Kolenda, Assistant Director of Fitness/Wellness, Chair of sub-committee
• Jon Randle, Assistant Director of Intramural Sports

This sub-committee is creating a plan to enact a permanent public display committing to racial equity in the ASRFC. We hope to collaborate with other departments on campus to create one of our public displays. Our public displays committing to racial equity will be unveiled during the 2021-2022 school year.

Sub-committee members include:

• Chad Bruner, Assistant Director of Sport Clubs
• Kendra Ikenberry, Coordinator, Fitness and Wellness
• Miranda Kolenda, Assistant Director of Fitness/Wellness

This sub-committee has been compiling a list of locally-owned minority businesses to highlight in our marketing materials and around our facility. While the list is still being finalized, KU Recreation Services has already begun highlighting Lawrence-area minority-owned businesses in our marketing videos. In our video outlining our face mask requirements (fall 2020 semester), we placed a list of Black-owned businesses that sell or make face coverings at the end of the video.

Sub-committee members include:

• Kirsten King, Assistant Director, Outdoor Pursuits and Special Events
• Blair Schuyler, Associate Director of Facility Management

Recreation Services is dedicated to providing fun and engaging activities for KU students. This sub-committee will be working to highlight and promote our diverse programming options from Intramural Sports, Group Fitness, Personal Training, Sport Clubs, Outdoor Pursuits and Facility Operations. Our goal is to provide opportunities for all of our members regardless of race, gender, identity and ability.

Sub-committee members include:

• Emily Weeks, Senior Coordinator, Operations
• Logan Reynolds, Assistant Director of Marketing